domingo, 26 de enero de 2014

2014 YEAR OF THE HORSE (CHINESE OR LUNAR NEW YEAR)

IT WILL BE A LUCKY YEAR TO START NEW VENTURES AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN ONGOING ONES. AS THE CHINESE SAYING GOES: "A GOOD HORSE NEVER TURNS ITS HEAD TO EAT THE GRASS BEHIND". ALWAYS AHEAD!

THE CELEBRATION IN ALL OF ASIA REVOLVES AROUND SERIOUS EATING AND DRINKING AND CAN LAST FROM 3-15 DAYS DEPENDING ON THE COUNTRY, PRIVATE ENTERPRISES OR GOVERNMENT ONES. IT IS ALSO CALLED SPRING FESTIVAL AND PEOPLE TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO MEET (LARGEST MIGRATION OF THE YEAR...IN THE MILLIONS) AND GIVE PRESENTS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

THE LANTERN FESTIVAL IS THE 15TH DAY OF THE NEW YEAR AND THE SKIES ARE FILLED WITH LANTERNS WITH CANDLES INSIDE.

THE CELEBRATIONS USE RED AS A LUCKY AND VERY AUSPICIOUS COLOR, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO DRIVE OFF MALICIOUS SPIRITS. ALSO FOR THIS PURPOSE, FIRECRACKERS AND FIREWORKS DISPLAYS ARE DONE, TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT. THE DRAGON AND LION DANCE WITH HEAVY DRUMMING IS ALSO DONE FOR THAT PURPOSE. CLEANING THE HOUSE ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY THINGS AND RENOVATING, THUS REMOVING BAD LUCK FROM THE HOUSE, IS ALSO AN ENGRAINED TRADITION...ALSO SEEN IN OTHER CULTURES, LIKE IN ROME WHERE OLD USELESS THINGS ARE THROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, ESPECIALLY IN THE TRASTEVERE QUARTER.